Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Pasay Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Pasay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $917 in Pasay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $1,255 in Pasay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,592 in Pasay, rent included.

Manila costs about 5% more than Pasay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Pasay are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Pasay 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$4.44 ₱278

22.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,664

$19.04 ₱1,194

39.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.84 ₱178

38.03%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$2.23 ₱140

12.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₱87.0

$0.63 ₱39.26

120.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.31 ₱19.24

167.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.21 ₱76.1

-4.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.58 ₱99.0

73.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.72 ₱108

9.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.8

$1.17 ₱73.2

19.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.0

$1.01 ₱63.6

-1.98%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.96 ₱123

17.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱490

$5.15 ₱323

51.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$4.29 ₱269

14.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$7.26 ₱456

-2.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.29 ₱143

41.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.54 ₱96.7

22.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.35 ₱147

28.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.17 ₱73.3

55.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$2.37 ₱149

-6.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$3.33 ₱209

-21.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$1.25 ₱78.3

73.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.12

$0.89 ₱55.6

-33.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$2.97 ₱186

7.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$7.73 ₱485

23.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$0.97 ₱61.0

31.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.82 ₱114

10.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.25

$0.19 ₱11.64

147.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱806

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.26

$0.76 ₱47.52

1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

$0.21 ₱13.12

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$1.18 ₱74.2

7.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

1.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.6K ₱1.2M

5.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ₱7,639

$139 ₱8,713

-12.33%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.16 ₱951

$14.20 ₱890

6.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,505

$25.46 ₱1,597

-5.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,673

$47.18 ₱2,959

-9.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱432

$5.20 ₱326

32.31%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$618 ₱38.8K

$73.4 ₱4,603

742.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.9K

$2,546 ₱159.7K

248.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,658

$36.19 ₱2,270

61.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,751

$19.34 ₱1,213

44.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,881

$70.1 ₱4,397

11.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,667

$64.3 ₱4,033

-9.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$432 ₱27.1K

26.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$315 ₱19.7K

-9.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$821 ₱51.5K

134.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$361 ₱22.6K

86.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.8K

$1,840 ₱115.4K

138.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.5K

$571 ₱35.8K

342.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$511 ₱32.0K

-6.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.14%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Last update for Pasay: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $432 in Pasay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Pasay, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $19.00 in Pasay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $189 – making Pasay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Manila vs Pasay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $917 in Pasay – roughly 5% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $1,375 in Pasay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pasay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in Manila and $917 in Pasay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $618 per month in Manila and $73.4 in Pasay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pasay, where all-in costs run around $917, than in Manila at $959. In Pasay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $917 in Pasay to $959 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Pasay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.